Are your motorhome or campervan tyres in good shape?
With the current uncertainties on making holiday plans, it’s likely 2020 will be the year of the ‘staycation’.
According to YouGov surveys, just 9% of us are considering foreign holidays while at least half will be spending less on their annual break than usual. That will mean we will be turning to the cost effective and self-reliant option of driving our families on a break, whether that be in a car, caravan, campervan or motorhome.
While we’re all keen to get away from it all and enjoy a change of scenery, TyreSafe is reminding drivers there are more tyre-related incidents on the roads in summer than at any other time of the year. As many vehicles have been parked, unattended for longer periods than usual this year, there’s a potential for those incidents to increase in number.
To reduce the risks of an inconvenient – or worse – interruption to a family-getaway, drivers are being urged to carry out some straightforward checks before they even begin to pack. That’s because one of the most forgotten tyre checks is to take a look at the spare wheel – if indeed your motorhome or campervan has one. It’s increasingly rare for a full-size spare wheel to be sold with vehicles when new, instead ‘space-saver’ and emergency repair kits are common.
So, before you load up with all your holiday must-haves, take a look for the spare wheel and if you don’t see one, find out how to use what is there. Being tyre safe before any journey does not take long but remember to ACT – air pressure, condition and tread.
The air pressure of each tyre should also be checked using an accurate gauge, so make sure you know what the tyre pressures are for your campervan before you set off to the petrol station.
Checking overall condition is equally important. Tyres harden more quickly when left unused on a vehicle and as so many vehicles have been parked up for many months, there might well be the risk of that ‘ageing process’ causing the tyres to crack. Where this is seen, or if there are any objects embedded in the tyres or bulges, you should seek professional advice immediately.
Finally, drivers should check the tread of their tyres to ensure they are above the UK legal tread depth minimum of 1.6 mm. Ideally, an accurate tread depth gauge should be used but if this is not available, a 20p coin can be used as a guide. Insert the 20p into the main sections of the tyre and at various points around the circumference – should you see the outer rim at any point, you need to have the tread depth checked as it may be illegal.
Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe Chair, said: “Most of us have spent the several months cooped up and looking forward to a change in scenery that isn’t generated by a TV or computer screen. But that enthusiasm to get out needs to be tempered with some caution when we’re considering driving our vehicles laden with our families on what might well be its longest journey since March.
"This is the season when there are the most reported tyre-related incidents on the road so, to reduce your risk of adding to those statistics, spend five minutes checking your tyres are in a roadworthy condition."
Recent Updates
Get five issues for just £5 in our summer sale!
Subscribe to MMM or Campervan magazine and get your first five issues for just £5 in our summer sale, helping you to make the most of your summer ...
Dover Truck Stop welcoming motorhomes and campervans
Just 10 minutes from the port of Dover, this is a convenient pit stop for people on cross-Channel journeys ...
Dolphin Motorhomes hosts Summer Open Weekend
Dolphin Motorhomes’ Summer event returns this July! With a huge display of new and used campervans and ...
Fiat announces details of new Ducato automatic
New Fiat Ducato will offer all-new eight-speed automatic gearbox for motorhomes and campervans ...
April 2024 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the April 2024 MMM puzzles and competition ...
Volkswagen reveals all-new California campervan
Volkswagen's iconic California campervan gets a completely new look as VW holds the world premiere of the new ...
Globalstar celebrates major rescue milestone
Devices from Globalstar, a satellite tracking and emergency messaging specialist, have been instrumental in ...
March 2024 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the March 2024 MMM puzzles and competition ...
February 2024 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the February 2024 MMM puzzles and competition ...
Explore motorhome accessories on the Out & About Shop!
Our brand-new shop is packed full of camping gear and equipment, including products tested and reviewed by ...
Other News
Deal for Robinsons Caravans after it enters administration
Parts of the Robinsons Caravans business have been sold and many jobs have been saved after the caravan dealer went into administration ...
Dolphin Motorhomes to host open weekend in April
Enjoy special offers on superb campervans and motorhomes, including the brand-new Swift Trekker and Trekker ...
Motorhome and campervan stopover trialled in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire County Council has approved a trial scheme to provide overnight stopovers for motorhomes and ...
A spotlight on Lamilux, the brand shielding your motorhome from UV damage
Here, we take a deep dive on the German brand engineering the high-tech and award-winning materials for ...
January 2024 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the January 2024 MMM puzzles and competition ...
New Swift campervan for 2024: Full details revealed
This exciting new campervan showcases some clever details and a fresh new design from Swift ...
December 2023 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the December 2023 MMM puzzles and competition ...
Behind the motorhome scenes: Laika SpA interview
We talk to Michel Vuillermoz, Head of Product Management, Laika Caravans S.p.A about the new direction it is ...
November 2023 MMM competition winners
Here's a list of winners for the November 2023 MMM puzzles and competition ...
Buying Your Perfect Motorhome 2024 on sale now
Planning to buy a new motorhome or campervan this year? The latest 2024 Buying Your Perfect Motorhome guide ...